LOWER HILL REDEVELOPMENT

It was an absolute pleasure for the Lower Hill Development Team to host the MacedoniaFACE Seniors’ visit to the Lower Hill Suite at PPG Paints Arena! This was a first hockey game for all of them. It made us both sad and glad because it reflects the growth and change that has happened in our neighborhood and throughout this city to be far more responsive around community engagement. The Pittsburgh Penguins have been making significant efforts, lately, and there is more to come. One gentleman told us that he saw both the construction AND the demolition of the Civic Arena. As Director of Community, Arts and Culture for The Buccini/Pollin Group, Dr. Kimberly Ellis stated, in relation to that fact, “I am still the Historian of the Historic Hill District and for the Lower Hill District Team. Elders are libraries and I am trying to read them all! “
 
Additional Lower Hill Team members in attendance were new BPG employee Jessica Jeffries, BPG’s Senior Vice President of Development, Boris Kaplan, and new Senior Vice President of Development for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Craig Dunham. We look forward to hosting more community members in our Lower Hill Suite!

​The weekend of August 12-14 was a BIG DEAL for the Historic Hill District, City of Pittsburgh, America and the international community, due to the heavily anticipated Grand Opening of the August Wilson House at 1727 Bedford Avenue. Friday August 12th kicked off celebrations with the premiere of August Wilson’s, “Jitney” in the Backyard Theater of the newly renovated boyhood home of August Wilson, which received standing ovations and rave reviews throughout its entire run. On Saturday, Founding Executive Director, Attorney Paul Ellis, along with his sister and original Digital Director, Dr. Kimberly C. Ellis, stood alongside architect Rob Pfaffman, August Wilson House Board members, and Hollywood stars Russell Hornsby and Denzel Washington, alongside Mayor Ed Gainey and others, for the ribbon cutting.

Just prior to the cutting of the ribbon, the crowd cheered with elation when Paul A. Ellis received a Commemoration from the City of Pittsburgh from Councilman Danielle Lavelle and Mayor Ed Gainey noting it was “Paul Anthony Ellis, Jr. Day” in the City of Pittsburgh! The large crowd that swept around the August Wilson House heard speeches from Denzel Washington, Wilson’s widow, Constanza Romero, his niece, Dr. Kimberly C. Ellis (who is also Lower Hill Team Director of Community, Arts and Culture) and his daughter, Sakina Ansari-Wilson. At one point, there was not a dry eye in sight. The entire Grand Opening was a phased day of twelve hours of activities that began with taking a jitney shuttle to 1727 Bedford Avenue, hitting the red carpet, the celebrity ribbon cutting ceremony, the private tours of the August Wilson House, the catered lunch by Roxanne’s Catering, the African drumming to DJ Blakk Steel, August Wilson Monologue Competition performances and dancing all night long under the tent. The Lower Hill District Team was proud to sponsor this event and we look forward to continuing to support the August Wilson House. The news coverage of this event was seen in national and international news, including the New York Times!

November 21, 2021 - Lower Hill Redevelopment partners - Pittsburgh Penguins and the Buccini/Pollin Group were proud to partner with UPMC, ACH Clear Pathways and United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania on a series of COVID vaccination clinics for Hill District residents on November 21st and December 12th 2021. The "Have a Heart & Take a Shot of Hope Vaccine Clinic", serviced over 130 people including 30 pediatrics. Thank you to all organizations that helped make this event possible: WAMO, UPMC , Pittsburgh Penguins, Giant-Eagle, United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania,  Buccini/Pollin Group
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Follow @lowerhillredev for information on upcoming clinics and events. 

November 10, 2021 - Members of Buccini/Pollin Group (BPG) executive team and JLL presented an update on the Lower Hill District redevelopment to a lunch audience of the Building Owners & Managers Association (BOMA) of Pittsburgh at the Kimpton Hotel Monaco Pittsburgh. 

Highlights of the update included the announcement that I-579 Cap Park, a new three-acre span would soon be complete and expected to be open this winter (November 2021). Like the 28-acre former Civic Arena site, the CAP construction is a necessary step in the reconnecting of the Hill District to the central business district.

Lower Hill redevelopment presentation updates also included how the development team plans to better include the Black Hill District community with multiple community reinvestment initiatives in the larger redevelopment plan. Anchoring the site is the new $240 million FNB Financial Center located at the corner of Washington Place and Bedford Avenue. This 26-story office tower will feature ground floor retail and serve as the Corporate headquarters for FNB.

​Click here to see the site

Let's get social! In collaboration with Lower Hill development partner, the Pittsburgh Penguins, we are delighted to announce monthly ticket giveaways for select events happening at PPG Paints Arena. For a chance to win, simply follow @lowerhillredev (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube) and check daily for contest details. Below are pictures from this month's event Gold Over America Tour starring Simone Biles and an all star team of champion gymnasts. All ticket winners will be notified prior to the event with pick up details and PPG Paints arena venue requirements. 

​October Ticket Giveaway Winners 
Gold Over America  Tour Starring Simone Biles - October 29, 2021

Lower Hill District social media channels feature content on Hill District community events, the First Source Job Resource Center, construction and professional service job opportunities, M/WBE and small business information, trainings and FNB Financial Center leasing opportunities. 

September 28, 2021 - Wilmington-based developer, The Buccini/Pollin Group, Inc. (BPG), F.N.B. Corporation (FNB), the Pittsburgh Penguins, and Clay Cove Capital are delighted to announce the closing on over $200 million of construction financing for the 26-story FNB Financial Center project, located in the Lower Hill District of Pittsburgh, on Friday, September 10, 2021. Equity for the project has been provided by Clay Cove Capital, one of the largest minority-owned real estate investment firms in the country. This is one of the largest community reinvestment projects in the state of Pennsylvania and has been recognized as a model for inclusive development around the United States. A ceremonial groundbreaking for the project was held earlier this month as well.
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“We are proud to achieve such important milestones for this transformational project – one that’s made possible by the strong partnership behind the FNB Financial Center,” BPG Co-President Chris Buccini said. “This partnership is made up of champions, and this project would not happen without our partners’ love of their hometown and our collective commitment to making Pittsburgh a better place for all its residents. We are excited about the future of this City, this community, and this significant investment, and look forward to working together to make great things happen in the Historic Hill District.”

The team’s community reinvestment efforts received a major boost from closing, as the transaction delivered over $7 million of monetized tax abatement benefits to the community-directed Greater Hill District Reinvestment Fund. The funding will be used to invest in development projects and other community needs in the Greater Hill District as outlined in the Community Collaboration and Implementation Plan (CCIP) between the neighborhood and the developers.  Possible applications for the funding could include local redevelopment projects, youth education programs, rent and mortgage assistance and other wealth-building and capacity-building efforts.
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Bomani M. Howze, Vice President of Development for the Buccini/Pollin Group, said, “We are excited to have delivered on our promise of the first installment of $7.2 Million toward the Greater Hill District Neighborhood Reinvestment Fund. The tax abatement monetization from the FNB Financial Center symbolizes a critical delivery on our commitment to ensuring that catalytic Lower Hill projects are developed to have lasting impact in the Middle and Upper Hill District.”

No other development in the city of Pittsburgh has ever generated such a large degree of direct cash impact to help invest in adjacent underserved neighborhood.

“I am grateful that we are not only seeing the development in the Lower Hill move forward to right the wrongs of the past and create opportunities in the historic Hill District, but that our development partners are demonstrating their commitment to the Hill community by providing community investment funding up front,” said Pittsburgh Mayor William Peduto. “I’d like to thank all of the partners in this development and the Hill District community for creating a model where communities and developers can work together to help ensure the community benefits and drives investment in their neighborhood from these developments.”

Based on estimates, the Lower Hill tax abatement district could generate up to $40 million overall for the Greater Hill beginning with the FNB Financial Center. The 26-story mixed-use tower is designed to kick-start the redevelopment of the historic Pittsburgh neighborhood and serve as the corporate headquarters of FNB, the parent company of First National Bank.

“This point is the beginning of a transformational development not only for the Lower Hill, but the region,” said David Morehouse, CEO of the Pittsburgh Penguins at the office tower’s September 1st groundbreaking ceremony.

The tower is expected to generate 1,250 construction jobs, 2,000 permanent jobs and over $40 million in investments in the Middle and Upper Hill District. It will contain more than 475,000 square feet of Class A office space, consolidate FNB’s regional headquarters operations, and include open space and terraces for community events at the adjacent Plaza at FNB Financial Center. Construction of the tower at Bedford Avenue and Washington Place will further restore connections between the Greater Hill District and Downtown Pittsburgh and is the first step in an estimated $1 billion redevelopment of the 28-acre former Civic Arena site led by BPG, the Pittsburgh Penguins and their partners.

To expand participation by minority and women-owned businesses in the project, the development team hired e-Holdings at the start of the year to boost inclusive procurement efforts.  In June, the Penguins and BPG opened the First Source Center on Centre Avenue as a one stop shop for those seeking assistance with employment and contracting opportunities at the site, which, following construction of FNB Financial Center, will next include a live music venue, parking garage and housing.

Construction of FNB Financial Center will be led by P.J. Dick. Internationally renowned Gensler is leading the design team for the project. The Pittsburgh office of JLL is responsible for commercial leasing efforts.
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Construction of FNB Financial Center and the Plaza is expected to be completed in late 2023.

​PITTSBURGH, PA (September 1, 2021) F.N.B. Corporation (FNB), the Pittsburgh Penguins, Clay Cove Capital and The Buccini/Pollin Group (BPG) today joined members of the Historic Hill District community and elected officials to break ground on FNB Financial Center, the 26-story mixed-use tower that will kick-start the redevelopment of the historic Pittsburgh neighborhood and serve as the corporate headquarters of FNB, the parent company of First National Bank.
 
With more than 150 years of service to western Pennsylvania, construction of FNB Financial Center further marks FNB as one of the greatest drivers of Pittsburgh’s revitalization through its commitment to raising the quality of life for all in the region. The tower is expected to generate 1,250 construction jobs, 2,000 permanent jobs and $40 million in investments in the Middle and Upper Hill District. It will contain more than 475,000 square feet of Class A office space, consolidate the company’s regional headquarters operations and include open space and terraces for community events at the adjacent Plaza at FNB Financial Center.
 
“Through the dedication of our partners and community, today we commenced a project that will fulfill a vision for transformation in our region that has been years in the making,” said Vincent J. Delie, Jr., Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of F.N.B. Corporation and First National Bank. “We are proud to continue to grow our Company in our headquarters city and for FNB to be such an integral part of Pittsburgh’s future.” 
 
Construction of the tower at Bedford Avenue and Washington Place will further restore connections between the Greater Hill District and Downtown Pittsburgh and is the first step in an estimated $1 billion redevelopment by the Pittsburgh Penguins of the 28-acre former Civic Arena site.
 
To expand participation by minority and women-owned businesses in the project, the development team hired e-Holdings at the start of the year to boost inclusive procurement efforts.  In June, the Penguins and BPG opened the First Source Center on Centre Avenue as a one stop shop for those seeking assistance with employment and contracting opportunities at the site, which, following construction of FNB Financial Center, will next include a live music venue, parking garage and housing.
 
“The Penguins are proud to be one of the most community-driven teams in professional sports, and while there is still much work to be done, today’s groundbreaking shows that we stand by the promises made to our Hill District neighbors,” Penguins CEO and President David Morehouse said. “FNB too has a long history of supporting our city, and with this project they are providing a tremendous boost to Pittsburgh’s economy and job creation as we rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic.”
 
BPG is the master developer of the commercial elements of the Lower Hill District.
“We are delighted to achieve such an important milestone for this transformational project – one that’s made possible by the strong partnership behind the FNB Financial Center,” BPG Co-President Chris Buccini said. “This partnership is made up of champions, and this project would not happen without our partners’ love of their hometown and our collective commitment to making Pittsburgh a better place for all its residents. We are excited about the future of this City, this community and this significant investment and look forward to working together to make great things happen in the Historic Hill District.” 
 
Construction of FNB Financial Center will be led by P.J. Dick. Internationally-renowned Gensler is leading the design team for the project. The Pittsburgh office of JLL is responsible for commercial leasing efforts.
 
Construction of FNB Financial Center and the Plaza is expected to be completed in late 2023.